Electric discharge tube or incandescent lamp



Feb. 23, 1937; P. w. DOBBEN ET AL 4 ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBE 0R INCANDESCENT LAMP Filed March 2, 1933 2 SheetsSheet l ECU/H0066, and

JI Vo'o'ser Feb. 23, 1937.

P. W. DOBBEN ET AL ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBE OR INCANDESCENT LAMP Filed March 2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 and Q7: Vdover,

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Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC msorumor: TUBE on mean- DESCENT mm Application March 2, 1933, Serial No. 659,382 In Germany March 12, 1932 5Claims.

The present invention relates to devices such as electric discharge tubes, incandescent lamps and the like in which a sealed container is provided through which, for the electric connection of the electrodes of the tube or of the incandescent filament of the lamp, lead wires are hermetically introduced into the device.

A suitable construction for the introduction of the-lead wires of devices of the above type, especially in connection with larger sized devices, has been suggested in the U. S. Patent No. 1,734,809 to Gilles Holst, Jan Bergmans and Comelis 301, according to which one or more metal members are hermetically sealed into a corresponding opening of the envelope of the device, and the lead wires and supports are connected to such metal members. However, when using such a construction it is diflicult to properly insulate the lead wires or supports from each other as well as from the metal members, even when such lead wires and supports are surrounded by insulating members. Furthermore it is diflicult to free the metal members from occluded gases, which gases are liberated during the operation of the device, and which cause deleterious effects.

Also a construction according tothe above patent does not lend itself for a protected disposition of the exhaust tube, respectively its sealed-off tip, which gives rise to the breaking oil? of this tip.

All of the above difllculties are eliminated by our invention.

According to the invention the metal members, which are sealed into the envelope and to which the lead wires, supports, etc. are connected, are partly or entirely coated, at least bn their side facing the inside of the device, with a vitreous layer, as a rule, a glass layer, which has several important functions. Among other functions, this layer prevents the metal members from giving up occluded gases. Furthermore by extending between two adjacent metal members this layer electrically insulates the members from each other. In addition, according to the invention the glass coating may extend inwardly and/or outwardly in the form of insulating sleeves, supporting rods, exhaust tubes or the like and thus constitute a union between the envelope and such glass members.

In a particular embodiment of our invention the envelope of the tube is provided with one or more open end portions of reduced diameter which are closed by one or more metal members sealed to the envelope and to which discs the lead wires and supports are connected either by passing through the members or by being soldered or welded to the two sides of the members. Or again the members, lead wires and the supports may form an integral part. The inner surfaces of the metal members, according to the invention, are provided with a layer of glass which extends in one or more tubular members, which members insulatingly surround the lead wires or supports. Such construction provides a perfect insulation and protection against undesired discharges or breakdowns between adjacent lead wires and between such wires and the metal members.

Such construction may also eliminate the necessity of freeing the metal members from gas.

Furthermore, according to the invention such glass coating of the metal members may extend into a tube serving as the exhaust tube of the device. The sealed-oil tip of such tube is thereby mechanically protected by the lead wires or by the base of the device or by both.

We prefer to provide the exhaust tube as an extension from the glass separation provided between two adioining metal members, although the exhaust tube may be so disposed as to open into an aperture of one metal member through which aperture it extends to connect with the glass coating on the inside of the metal member. Furthermore, the glass coating may extend into inwardly extending tubular or rod-shaped members for the support of bodies provided in the device, for example, for the support of screens, separators, etc.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect a device according to the invention will be described more fully by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,--

Figure 1 is a partly sectionized front elevation of a device embodying our invention taken along line II of Figure 2.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectionized side view of the device shown in Fig. 1, taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the end portion of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the cap removed;

Fig. 4 is a partly sectionized front elevation of an incandescent lamp embodying the invention.

It should be understood that the invention may be equally well applied to other types of discharge tubes or incandescent lamps and the like, whether of the gasfilled or vacuum type.

The device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises an envelope l of vitreous material, for instance of glass. The two ends of the envelope are of reduced diameter and are provided with openings members 2, consisting preferably of ferrochrome which is an alloy especially well suited for this purpose. I

On one end of the tube (shown as the upper end) a lead wire or support 3 is connected to each metal member 2, the supports 33 carrying an incandescible cathode 4.

The metal members 2-4 of the lower end carry lead wires and supports 5-5 for two graphite anodes 6-4, which anodes are preferably separated from each other by a protective screen 1. J

One of the lead wires 3 of the cathode 4 may have secured to it a body 8 comprising a getter substance which, for the absorption of gas residues of the tube, is disintegrated into the tube.

The metal members 2 are coated on their inner face with a vitreous layer 9, preferably witha glass layer having a composition similar to that of the envelope.

On the cathode end of the tube the glass coating 9 extends outwardly into a tubular glass member, which serves as an exhaust tube and which, after the exhausting and gas filling of the tube is completed,.is sealed off to form a tip as shown at i0.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the exhaust tube is provided between the two metal members 2-2. While this is a preferred construction, as stated, the exhaust tube may be attached to one of the metal members, in which case the member is provided with an opening which connects the exhaust tube with the inside of the discharge tube and through which opening the glass coating extends.

On the anode end of the tube the glass coating 9 extends into tubular sleeve-members ii-ii, which surround the lead wires 5-5 of the anodes (see Fig. 2). The metal membersI-Z at the anode end are provided with conductors i3i3 which connect the lead wires 55 with the connectors l4i4 of a base or cap i2 cemented or otherwise secured to the tube. On the cathode end the tube is provided with a suitable base i5, for instance, with a standard screw base to which are secured in known manner conductors i6 and H, which conductors are electrically connected to the members 22.

The glass coating 9!! of the metal members at the anode end are shown as extending into a rodshape glass member i8 acting as a support for the stem I!) of a protective screen i. Secured to the stem i9 are two transverse supports 30 which serve to maintain the screen 1 in its correct position. Supported from the lead wires 55 is a protective disc 20 of mica or other suitable material.

The term electrodes as used in the claims is to be understood to include also the filament or filaments of an incandescent lamp. The incandescent lamp shown in Fig. 4 comprises an envelope 4i in whose bottom portion are hermetically-sealed two metal members 2. Secured to the upper surface of members 2 are metal rods 42. Supported by rods 42 are two glass members 43, which support a filament 44 having its ends connected to the rods 42. The bottom portion of the envelope extends upwardly to form two tubu- 2,071,874 into each of which are sealed a pair of metal.

lar members 45 surrounding the 'rods 42. The lamp is provided with a base i2, terminals i4 and connecting leads i3 in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3.

While we have described our invention in connection with a specific embodiment and as applied to a rectifier tube, we do not wish to be limited to such construction and application, but desire the appended claims to be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What we claim is:

1. An electrical device comprising a sealed envelope having a glass portion and an electrode therein, a plurality of metal members sealed to said glass portion, metallic conductors connected to said metal members and extending both outwardly and inwardly to form electric connections for said electrode, a glass layer covering part of the inner face of said metal members, and tubular glass members extending from said layer and integral therewith, and surrounding the inwardly-extending portions of said conductors.

2. An electrical device comprising an envelope having a glass portion, a plurality of metal members sealed to said glass portion, a glass layer covering the inner face of said metal members, and a tubular glass exhaust tube forming an extension of said glass layer.

3. An electrical device comprising a glass envelope having a reduced apertured glass portion, at least two metal members sealed in said reduced portion, a glass layer on the inner surfaces of said metal members and extending between adjacent members to form a separator between the same, and a glass tube extending from said separator and forming the exhaust tube'Ior the device.

4. An electrical device having a vitreous envelope comprising opposite end portions of great mechanical strength, said end portions comprising a plurality of metal members sealed to said vitreous envelope, electrodes within said envelope, and mounted from the opposite end portions thereof, conductive electrode supports secured to said metal members, glass layers at least partly covering the inner faces of said metal members and separating adjacent members, and a plurality of tubular glass members including members shieldin gly surrounding said supports, members serving as supports and a member serving as an exhaust tube, said glass members extending from said glass layers and being joined to said envelope by said glass layers, said envelope, glass layers and glass members forming an uninterrupted inner glass surface of the device.

5. An electrical device comprising an envelope having an apertured vitreous portion, an electrode within said envelope, a metal member peripherally sealed into the aperture of said vitreous portion; a conductor electrically connected to said electrode, said conductor being mechanically secured and electrically connected to said metal member, a vitreous layer on the inner surface of said metal member and forming an extension of said vitreous portion, and a cylindrical vitreous member forming an extension of said vitreous layer.

PIETER WILHELM DOBBEN.. JOHANNES VISSER. 

